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Being an Only Child … for moments in time
I’m not an only child. I am the oldest of three. Neither are my boys. There are four boys from 19 years old to 2 years old. They are my heart walking around outside of my body. And I’m laughing (with her of course) at a very dear friend who just found out they are pregnant with Baby 2 and are worried that older brother is going to be jealous. Ah life is about to change (all for the better) for them! You know that opportunity though when you get time with just Mom or Dad? It is priceless. So walk with me down memory lane. I was a junior in…
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Raising a Generation that Loves
Today Newtown, Conneticut will bury the first of their children. Noah Pozner, age 6, will be laid to rest at 1:00pm. (Newtown shooting victims: First funerals to be held) Then there will be 19 more funerals for children and 7 for adults. Oh deep sorrow runs through my blood. My husband, the level headed soldier who has seen more then I would like to imagine, came home on Friday and immediately turned on the news. He watched for a quite a while, standing there stunned. Then the man who is never sick complained of a headache the rest of the night. I don’t know if it was a headache as much…
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Full of Thanks
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday by far. Christmas and Easter shape my life but have become way too commercialized and, in general, we’ve lost the meaning. There’s not much pressure with Thanksgiving though. Wednesday I’ll turn the music up, bake some cookies, pies and bread. I’ll enjoy having the kids’ help once in awhile (especially with the cookie part) and then Thanksgiving, this year, we’ll head to hub’s family gathering; sixty to seventy of his closest relatives. No fuss, just family. I also love taking the time to enjoy what we are thankful for. This year, at dinner, we have gone around the table each day and said something we are thankful for. …
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Self Esteem vs Self Respect
Last weekend was cold. Cold and rainy. The kind of weather that makes you want to curl up in front of a fire with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book. Instead I was at a soccer tournament for my ten-year old. Three games over Saturday and Sunday 90 minutes from home. Three games of pure determination on our boys’ parts. Three games of ‘Go, Avon, Go!’ … Three losses. Continue Reading about how to turn the loss into a win, Self Esteem vs Self Respect But that doesn’t necessarily make this mom sad: * The relationships that those boys are making out there on the field, the friendships…
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Going to Bat for the Bullied
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. A great time to educate yourself, empower yourself, think about how to handle future bully problems in your own children’s lives. Stopbullying.gov is a great resource, as is StompOutBullying.org. I’ve written about my own experience with bullying once before and I stand by my thoughts, “Bullying and our Military Children“. But amidst all these awareness programs an article caught my eye :Dad Takes on School That Suspended His Son for Being a ‘Bully’A normal first assumption is why would Dad be upset with the school for punishing his son, the bully? Why would his dad be upset that his own kid was throwing punches, kicking…
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New Friends, Motherhood and Growth
We are well into the autumn schedule. Boys are at school, my toddler and I are settling into a great routine, which includes some Disney Channel, Lego-time and lots of books. Plus lots of crock-pot time, a newly-painted bedroom and garden canning and storage for the winter months. It has been a great fall so far! But I’m taking on new adventures too. This year that includes MOMSNext. I’m a huge advocate for MOPS. That organization turned my life around from being a lonely mom with not many friends in a new area with a toddler and baby, to an involved mom part of a group; wanted, loved, befriended, needed. …
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Getting Organized this School Year
It’s the beginning of the new school year and I could already hear myself nagging my boys to get homework done, put away their shoes, pick up your backpack off the middle of the kitchen floor so I don’t trip over it again. It’s such a lovely way to spend the first hour or two after being away at school for the last six-hours. Yes, I hate it. Continue Reading to download your own Homework Time Checklist – Getting Organized this School year Until I devised a great checklist that I put on the kitchen counter before they arrive home. If you have the same nagging issue print up this list for…
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An Ode to Monday Morning
Oh Monday MorningHowEarly You Come Cup of Coffee Number 2 doesn’t touch you, oh cruel Monday Morning. Lunches are packed, Kisses for the day are given, Boys are off to school, Hubs is off to work Sheets are off the bedDishwasher is emptiedWashing Machine is rumbling, removing a weekends worth of dirt from clothes, clothes, a mountain of clothes Lists have been made, The Day has been planned, all before 8 AM. But yes, I will conquer this day. I will prevail.Now let me go pour Cup Number 3 and add a shot of ‘Go Get ’em, Girlfriend’Let’s do this thing called Monday. – Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com Join Us byLeanne KocsisonMonday, August 27, 2012Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare…
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A Heavy Dose of Perspective
I am working hard at the kitchen counter labeling glue sticks, crayons, markers, rulers, binders, everything but the kitchen sink. In just a few days from now my newly titled second and fourth graders will be off to their first day of school. Our days will grow suddenly quieter. My two-year old will wonder where “EWWWIIII and IN” are. Nap time will be all about me, or at least finding the kitchen counter so the boys can come home to a study environment for homework. I think all this through with a heavy dose of excitement for the future as well as deep-thoughts from the soul of a mom who just said goodbye to…
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You Scream, I Scream …
I have a fun loving, head strong, wonderful two year old! As any mother may gush I think he is the best two year older this side of the Mississippi. However, he is a screamer. One of today’s many episodes happened in the library. Of all places. He’s also had ear piercing, atom splitting, dog-hiding under the pillow scream fits at the grocery store, in the kitchen, in the front yard, at the pool, on walks, in public restrooms. You name it, he’s screamed.The problem, usually? He can’t communicate. Sometimes as a mom it makes me feel better to just know why he is screaming. He may throw a fit because he wants…
